Vote favours Werri Beach fitness trail

By
ALEX ARNOLD

Kiama councillors have endorsed plans for a $65,000 trail of outdoor fitness equipment at Werri Beach.

Werri Beach.

Kiama councillors have endorsed plans for a $65,000 trail of outdoor fitness equipment at Werri Beach.

Gerringong residents were given the choice of a fitness trail along Pacific Avenue, with the equipment to be distributed between the Gerringong Surf Life Saving Club and Lloyd Rees Reserve, or an alternative option of grouping 10 pieces of equipment in the park adjacent to the surf club.

A council community engagement process found 76 per cent in favour of a trail, however the council also received a petition of 76 signatures - 25 of which were from outside the municipality - supporting the grouped option.

Cr Dennis Seage said he supported the grouped option after being approached by several people who had concerns a fitness trail would exclude elderly residents and people with mobility issues from using the equipment.

However Cr Andrew Sloan said the park south of the surf club identified for the equipment was directly below "a lot of houses".

"I've been noticing the actions of some of the fitness groups at Coronation Park, they're dragging tyres up and down and wearing holes all over the place," he said.

"If we put a whole heap of equipment together at Werri Beach you can bet every morning at 6am there will be big groups below houses and we will get a lot of complaints."

Kiama Mayor Brian Petschler said the council was preparing a report on the issue of organised fitness groups exercising on council land.